General Information

Serial #

23347

Part Number

1

Total Parts

3

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

METAL/ WOODEN TOOL BOX/ RUBBER HOSES

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

385.0 cm

Width

137.0 cm

Height

178.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Agriculture

Category

Power sources

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

MOLINE

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Illinois

City

Moline

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Unknown

Period

1918-1925

Canada

Unknown

Function

The tractor is a motorized vehicle used to pull and actuate other vehicles or implements that are not power-driven. Tractors are primarily designed for agricultural work: for cultivation, spraying, and harvesting operations. The first tractors, developed in the mid-nineteenth century, were steam-powered and were not very mobile: their main purpose was to power threshers and other equipment. The development of gas-engines in the late 19th century, and their integration into tractors, gave the machines more mobility and flexibility. Robert C. Williams writes in "Fordson, Farmall, and Poppin' Johnny: A history of the farm tractor and its impact on America" (1987) that "Of all the farm implements, the tractor has had the greatest impact on rural life...In one generation between 1920 and 1950, most farms in the United States changed from dependence on draft animals to dependence on mechanical power."

Technical

This was the first tractor to offer an electric starter and lights and, front drive wheels.This was the first successful row-crop tractor that suspended tools from the middle of frame.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

MFR'S PLATE ON FRONT READS 'MOLINE 'UNIVERSAL' TRACTOR/ WHEN ORDERING REPAIR/ PARTS ALWAYS GIVE/ CHASSIS NUMBER/ MOTOR R34549 CHASSIS 23347/ PATENTED/ AUG. 2, 1904 OCT. 16, 1917/ JUNE 27, 1916 MAY 14, 1918/ APR. 10, 1917 OCT. 1 1918/ JUNE 19, 1917 DEC. 31, 1918/ OTHER PATENTS PENDING/ MOLINE PLOW CO., MOLINE, ILL.'/ STENCILLED ON FRONT: 'MOLINE/ UNIVERSAL'/ EMBOSSED ON BOTH ENDS OF TANK: 'MOLINE PLOW CO./ [MFR'S EMBLEM]/ MOLINE ILL'/ ON BOTH SIDES OF FRAME READS: 'MOLINE-UNIVERSALT TRACTOR'/ INSTRUMENT PANEL, ELECTRICAL GOVERNOR CONTROL READS FROM 1 TO 10 & FAST/ 'SWITCH KEY' ALSO CONTROLS LIGHTS/ OIL GAUGE ON RIGHT SIDE OF ENGINE

Missing

HEADLIGHT/ REAR LIGHT BULB/ END OF DRAW BAR/ DISTRIBUTOR CAP/ SWITCH KEY FROM INSTRUMENT PANEL/ SPARK PLUGS

Finish

EVIDENCE OF RED PAINT WITH YELLOW & BLUE PAINT TRIM

Decoration

MFR'S NAME STENCILLED ON FRONT IN YELLOW PAINT/ YELLOW DECORATIVE PIPING ON FRONT & SIDE OF ENGINE & ON TANK/ MFR'S NAME EMBOSSED & EMBLEM [M.P. CO.] STENCILLED ON TANK/ MFR'S NAME STENCILLED IN YELLOW ON BOTH SIDES OF FRAME NEAR STEERING WHEEL, 'MOLINE-UNIVERSAL TRACTOR'/ STENCILLED BEHIND RADIATOR IS MODEL D, WITH ONE 'D' INSIDE THE OTHER